In Bernardo Bertolucci's controversial adult drama, a middle-aged American (Marlon Brando), whose wife has just committed suicide, meets a young French girl (Maria Schneider) when they both view an apartment in Paris at the same time. They begin a strange, anonymous sexual relationship in the empty apartment, agreeing not to divulge any personal information to each other. Bertolucci and Brando were both nominated for Academy Awards.